Work programme of the Bologna Follow-Up Group 2003-2005

Seminar on Doctoral Programmes for the European Knowledge Society

Bologna Seminar
Salzburg, Austria
03/02/2005 - 05/02/2005

270 participants from 35 countries and from partner organisations participated in this seminar, organised by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the European University Association.

From the discussions in Salzburg a consensus emerged on a set of ten basic principles:

The core component of doctoral training is the advancement of knowledge through original research. At the same time it is recognised that doctoral training must increasingly meet the needs of an employment market that is wider than academia.

Embedding in institutional strategies and policies: universities as institutions need to assume responsibility for ensuring that the doctoral programmes and research training they offer are designed to meet new challenges and include appropriate professional career development opportunities.

The importance of diversity: the rich diversity of doctoral programmes in Europe, including joint doctorates, is a strength which has to be underpinned by quality and sound practice.

Doctoral candidates as early stage researchers: should be recognised as professionals – with commensurate rights - who make a key contribution to the creation of new knowledge.

The crucial role of supervision and assessment: in respect of individual doctoral candidates, arrangements for supervision and assessment should be based on a transparent contractual framework of shared responsibilities between doctoral candidates, supervisors and the institution (and where appropriate including other partners).

Achieving critical mass: doctoral programmes should seek to achieve critical mass and should draw on different types of innovative practice being introduced in universities across Europe, bearing in mind that different solutions may be appropriate to different contexts.

Duration: doctoral programmes should operate within an appropriate duration in time (three to four years full-time as a rule).

The promotion of innovative structures: to meet the challenge of interdisciplinary training and the development of transferable skills.

Increasing mobility: doctoral programmes should seek to offer geographical as well as interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility and international collaboration within an integrated framework of cooperation between universities and other partners.

Participants recommended to the BFUG that the ten principles outlined above should provide the basis for the further work of the BFUG and thus feed into the drafting of the Bergen Communiqué, and that the Ministers in Bergen should then call on the EUA through its members to prepare a report to be presented to Ministers in 2007, under the responsibility of the BFUG, on the further development of these principles.

Welcome addresses

Doctoral candidates and young researchers, Renzo Rubele, President, EURODOC + Speech Universities as research training institutions, Peter Gaehtgens, President, German Rectors’ Conference The reform of doctoral education in France and the link between universities and public research organizations, Jean Marc Monteil, Director General, French Ministry of Education + Speech The EU and the European Knowledge Society, Guy Haug, DG Education and Culture Comments from the industry and trade unions on employability of doctoral candidates, Maria Rimini-Döring, Robert Bosch GmbH, Corporate Research and Development + Speech Gerd Köhler, The German Education Union Summary presentation of the EUA “Doctoral Programmes Project”, Lesley Wilson, Secretary General, EUA

Wake up panel on doctoral programmes in the light of world wide competition

Magda Lola, Marie Curie Fellowship Association and University of Patras, Greece Louise Ackers, Director of the Centre for Study of Law in Europe, University of Leeds, Unite Kingdom Debra Stewart, President of the Council of Graduate Schools, USA